Barton was designated for assignment Saturday, and clear waivers. The team has assigned him to their Triple-A team in Sacremento. Barton was hitting .143/.217/.286 in 21 at-bats with the major-league club this season. After a strong 2010 season, Barton's career was derailed by a shoulder injury. He's only received 134 at-bats in the majors over the last two years. 

Porcello is well aware of his improved changeup, as R.J. White profiled in a recent player update. The numbers back up that notion. Porcello's whiff rate with the changeup has jumped from 13.02 percent last season to 17.65 percent this year, per BrooksBaseball.net. He's also been willing to use it against right-handers much more than in recent years. Porcello will look to run his streak of quality starts to five against the Twins Thursday. 

Porcello's recent streak might not be enough to convince Fantasy owners he's truly figured things out. He's had strong stretches in the past, but has rarely shown the high strikeout rates needed from Fantasy pitchers. 

"It’s all fastball command, really. The days that I’ve had good command of my fastball, I’ve been able to work everything off that," Hughes said. Hughes lasted just two-thirds of an inning during his last start, giving up seven earned runs. 

Hughes said he spoke to pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who said he was overthrowing his fastball during his recent start. Hughes admitted sometimes adrenaline gets the best of him on the mound, causing him to lose focus. 

Gregorius has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He's batting .387 (12 for 31) with one triple, three doubles and five RBI in that span. 

The rookie shortstop has totaled 10 multi-hit games in 22 appearances and has failed to record a hit just four times this season.

Chavez is batting .571 (12 for 21) in his last six games, sending his average skyrocketing from .282 to .343. He's batting .467 (21 for 45) in 14 May games (11 starts), while adding one home run, one triple, six doubles and 10 RBI in that span. Chavez came into May batting .241.

Pollock, who scored twice Monday, entered the game mired in a 2-for-23 slump in his previous seven games. Since hitting his last home run May 4, Pollock is batting .204 (10 for 49) with two RBI, two walks, four runs, four doubles and 12 strikeouts in his last 14 games (12 starts).

Ethier is batting .308 (16 for 52) in his last 16 games, raising his season average from .237 to .262. He has one triple, two doubles, five runs, six walks and six RBI in that span.

Brown also had his seventh multi-hit game in May Monday. He's batting .271 (19 for 70) with a .514 slugging percentage, two doubles, two stolen bases, eight runs and 10 RBI in 18 May games (17 starts).